In the practices of tantra, the chakras are energy wheels connected to different levels of consciousness. They are strung along the spine from the sacrum down to the crown at the top of the head. In general, when the chakras are closed, your energies are blocked, leaving you in a state of boredom and lack of energy.
In the context of spiritual disciplines, such as yoga, the chakras are considered to be wheel-like energy centers that do not physically different, but belong to the subtle spiritual body and connect it to the material one. The seven main chakras are:
- The Root Chakra – is associated with the color red and the earth element. It is at the base of the spine and governs how we connect to the outside world and oversees our basic needs for stability, food, and shelter.
- The Sacral Chakra – is associated with the color orange, and its element is water. It is located under the navel and is closely related to sexuality and our creative process. It is Chakra that encourages us to explore the world but also to be able to adapt better to changes.
- The Solar Plexus Chakra – is associated with the color yellow, and its element is fire. It is located between the rib cage and the navel, being the one that turns our desires into action. This Chakra also helps regulate digestion.
- The Heart Chakra – is associated with the color green, and its element is the air. It is located in the middle of the cardiovascular system and is connected with organs, such as the heart and lungs. It is associated with a person’s emotional profile like generosity and compassion.
- The Throat Chakra – is associated with the color blue, and its element is ether. It governs the neck, mouth, tongue, and other physical elements of the neck area. She is the one who regulates the way we communicate and helps us to express ourselves skillfully.
- The Third Eye Chakra – is associated with the color indigo, and its element is light. It is located at the forehead, in the space between the eyebrows. The “third eye” chakra governs intuition and insight, especially on spiritual levels.
- The Crown Chakra – is associated with the color purple and embodies the spirit. It is located at the top of the head and is considered to be the most spiritual of the basic chakras, as it governs spiritual consciousness and the potential for awakening to the dimension of the divine.
All practices are based on chakra meditation. Some are devoted to spiritual awakening, others to healing or relaxation. In a seated position, you’ll use a combination of vertical breath (inhaling and exhaling at certain chakra points in the central channel), mantra, mudra, and visualizations to tap into your subtle body) mantra, mudra, and visualizations, in order to reach your subtle body.
Like mindfulness, chakra meditation is a method that helps improve health and reduce stress, and its practice requires concentration and a balance of determination and relaxation.
